Community-Based Fisheries Co-Management in Senegal

In Senegal, the management of artisanal fisheries which account for approximately 90% of the total catch is an urgent task in view of the declining trend of fisheries resources. In this context, community-based fisheries co-management (CBFCM) has been attracting much attention in recent years as an artisanal fisheries management method. There are two reasons for the high expectations of CBFCM. (1) While various fisheries management methods, ranging from top-down methods to bottom-up methods, have been tried, positive results have only been achieved at those fishing villages where the community has taken the initiative. (2) When fisheries management receives the support of the administration and a research organization instead of leaving everything to the community, the willingness of fishermen to participate gains momentum. At the same time, management activities can be based on sound science. One successful example of the introduction of CBFCM is the recovery of octopus resources at Nianing and neighboring fishing villages. Here, local communities have established a closed season to protect octopuses during their spawning season and are using octopus pots for spawning to restore the resources. At the same time, such income generating activities as commercialization, chicken farming and fuel supply service are being practiced to compensate for any immediate economic loss of fisheries management. Meanwhile, the administration has enacted a prefectural ordinance and a research institute has been conducting participatory research to assist the community-led activities. The practice of CBFCM originally began in Nianing in 2004, spreading to seven fishing villages by 2007. The mean octopus catch per boat per day was as low as 20 kg from 2004 to 2006 but had increased to 40 kg in 2007, considerably boosting the income of local fishermen. Because of this, there is an increasing interest in CBFCM among Senegalese fishermen throughout the country, while the morale of those already practicing it is high. In this paper, CBFCM in Senegal is explained, followed by a review of several important points for the planning and implementation of CBFCM. A strategy to extend CBFCM throughout Senegal is also discussed

Can Africa Benefit from Asia's Experiences? In Pursuit of Sustainable Fisheries and Poverty Alleviation

In Africa, there is a growing awareness of the need to learn from the fisheries experiences of Asia, where the fisheries conditions are similar, to solve the deepening crisis in fisheries and poverty in the continent. As a response, technical assistance in the areas of fish stock assessment, fisheries management and rural development has been provided by the Japanese government and, under a World Bank project, study tours to Japan, the Philippines and Thailand had been organized for local staffs to obtain knowledge on fisheries co-management. To address the question of which of Asia’s experiences can actually be used in Africa, two of Asia’s successful intervention efforts, community-based fisheries co-management and livelihood projects, have been adopted. In areas of Africa where these intervention efforts have been introduced, positive changes have been witnessed. This is the case of Nianing, Senegal. Local residents have organized a management committee to control fishing for octopus and Cymbium sp. through the introduction of voluntary closed seasons and launched new types of economic activities such as the commercialization of marine products and chicken farming for poverty reduction. As a result, 80% of the local residents who have been interviewed experienced “an increase in their income despite the introduction of closed seasons.” While it is true that many African countries are in search of ways to changing policy direction towards decentralization, the slow decentralization of fisheries administration in Asian countries prompted people to question its applicability in Africa. It raises question whether or not Asian countries have a technological advantage compared to Western countries to assist African fisheries. If efforts to assist Africa are to be divided between Western countries and Asian countries, one viable way may be for the former to lead in institutionalization of policies while the latter, in provision of practical technologies

Senegal's Challenge towards Fisheries Co-Management (Video Presentation: 25 Min)

This video was produced by the Japan International Cooperation Agency to show the fisheries co-management activities recently adopted in Senegal. The structure of the video is as follows: causes of decline of fisheries resources, change of strategy from top-down to bottom-up fisheries management, building consensus among the fishermen with the support of local administration, implementation of biological rest of octopus, underwater view of spawning devices for octopus, income generating activities, examination of the factors which allow the continuation of fisheries management. This Senegalese experience could possibly be referred to as a solution in other countries where the conventional management system proved to be inefficient

A review of cuttlefish basket trap fishery

Abstract While cuttlefish basket trap fishery is a traditional fishing activity with a long history, there has never been an article which comprehensively assesses this type of fishery. The present review compiles existing knowledge on cuttlefish trap fishery and the findings of interviews conducted with fishermen by the authors. It mainly covers such issues as the history of cuttlefish trap fishery, relationship between traps and the catch, structure of traps, characteristics of fishing grounds and trap operating methods. In addition, the spawning habits of cuttlefish, which are closely related to trap fishery, are briefly described and the credibility of various theories on the catching process especially the motivation of cuttlefish to enter a trap is examined. The review concludes that because of the virtual absence of research on cuttlefish trap fishery, behavioral research is extremely necessary to establish fishery oriented resource management

Successful artificial reefs depend on getting the context right due to complex socio-bio-economic interactions

International audienceArtificial reefs (ARs) are one of the most popular means of supporting marine ecosystem conservation and coastal fisheries, particularly in developing countries. However, ARs generate complex socio-bio-economic interactions that require careful evaluation. This is particularly the case for ARs outside no-take zones, where fish might be subject to enhanced exploitation due to easier catchability. Here, we conducted an interdisciplinary study on how ARs impact fish and fishing yields, combining mathematical and sociological approaches. Both approaches converge to confirm that fishery yields decline when ARs are exploited as if they were open access areas. This situation typically occurs in areas with weak governance and/or high levels of illegal fishing activity, both of which are common in many developing countries. To avoid these adverse effects and their associated ecological consequences, we recommend prioritizing the onset of a long-term surveillance system against illegal fishing activities, and adapting design and location of the ARs based on both and local and academic knowledge, before the deployment of ARs